Safety-deposit-box system



H. MARSHALL. SAFETY DEPOSIT BOX SYSTEM. 7 APPLICATION- FILED NOV, 171919- v 1,437,001 Patented Nov. 28, 1922.

2 SH EETS-SHEET l- 8 JNVENTOR. I BY flu; mm

ATTORNEYS.

H.- MARSHALL.

SAFETY DEPOSIT BOX SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 17. 1919.

Patented Nov. 28, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@q; 702 cm I hereby 8 gre0 that the return to me of the box with thissea] bearing my signatureunbroken, shall be 1ccepted byme as proof thatthe contents of the boxhave been in no way disturbed eqlga that the boxwas returnei to me on this date with former seal unbrokemand conuntaintact Box No-. .501

III-1C .51271713 and. I hereby qcxnawl- ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 28,1922.

PATENT OFFICE.

HOLMES MARSHALL, OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO.

SLFETY-DEPOSIT-BOX SYSTEM.

Application filed November 17, 1919. Serial 110. 388,544.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOLMES MARSHALL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cleveland Heights in the county of Guyahoga and State of()hio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Safety-Deposit-Box Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawm s.

The general object of this invention is to provide asimple lockingorsealing system for safety deposit receptacles or the like, which may beeasily operated and which will insure against surreptitious opening ofthe receptacle or tampering with its contents. More specifically anobject of my invention is the provision of a data slip adapted to bedisplayed from within a deposit box in cooperation with means within thebox and its cover, whereby the box cannot be opened without alterationof the appearance of the slip. A further object is to provide such meansin extremely simple and compact form such that it can be very cheaplymanufactured and occupy but little space within the box. Another objectis the provision of means whereby each slip is automatically identifiedwith the box with which it is employed. Still another object is theprovision Of a system that is highly simple and requires but few stepsin its operation, yet is entirely effective in preserving the contentsof the deposit boxes against disturbance, and in preventing access toany box of a person not entitled thereto.

My invention is hereinafter mbre fully described and is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings. The essential characteristics are summarizedin the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a deposit box equippedwith my safety device; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan of the same with thecover removed; Fig. 3

is a vertical section therethrough showing the box closed; Fig. 4 is asimilar View showing the operationof the parts as the cover is beingopened; Fig. 5is atransverse section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6is a fragmentary front elevation of a cabinet showing one compartmentopen with a deposit box therein; Fig. 7 illustrates a data slip adaptedto be employed as part of my invention, and Fig. 8 is a detail sectionshowing a slightly modified arrangement of the door and card for one ofthe compartments shown in F if. 6.

Re erring to the drawings by reference numerals, a suitable safetydeposit box 10 is provided with a hinged cover 11 and a front wall 12having a slot 13. A bar 8 may be provided to cooperate with the flanges9 on the sides of the box to hold papers or other contents of the box inflat position within the box, and preventthegposs-ibility ofthe openingof the box by the expansion of the contents. Secured t0 the wall 12behind the slot 13 is a plate 15 forming with the wall 12 a pocket 14adapted to receive a data card or slip 4O suitably mounted within thebox. Immediately to the rear of the plate 15 is a mechanism cooperatingwith a tongue 18 depending from the top of the lid or coverof the boxand adapted to alter the appearance or the card or slip 40 placed withinthe pocket 1 5 when the cover 11 is raised to open the box.

To accom lish the above end i secure to the base of t e box 10, by anysuitable means, a bracket 20, and pivot thereto on a horizontal pin 21,a cam member 22. The member 22 has a cam face 23 adapted to engage aleaf spring 25 secured at one end as at 26 to the plate 15. The otherend of the spring 25 is bent at right angles to the plate and has apointed end 27 adapted to pass through an opening 28 in registrytherewith in the plate 15, when moved forwardly by the cam 22.

The cam ,22 is moved by the tongue 18 when the lid 11 is raised by meansof a bell crank 30 secured to the cam and engaged by the tongue 18. Thisbell crank is pivoted at 31 near the upper end of the cam 22 and itsupper arm is preferably bifurcated and the ends of the furcations bentat right angles toward each other to form a closed loop 32 as shown inFigs. 2 and 3. The lower arm 33 of the bell crank is adapted to beengaged by the end 36 of the tongue 18 which slides down the inner ed eof the arm 33 as the lid 11 is closed. A stirrup 38 is shown on thepressthe same, thereby throwing the arm 33 rearwardly over the tongue end 36.raising the lid 11, the arm 33 of the bell crank will be raised,depressing the end 32 5 against the cam 22 within the slot 34, androcking the same forwardly on its pivot 21, thereby forcing the spring25 forwardly.

A card or slip may be inserted in the pocket 14, and may bear anyindicia desired in a manner adapted to be visible through the slot 13,and other indicia, such as the contract shown in Fig. 7. To protect theslip and prevent possible surreptitious removal thereof through theslot, a pane of transparent material such as celluloid, having anopening 42 in registry with the opening 28 in the plate 15, may beinserted in the pocket in front of the slip, or so spaced therefrom thatthe opening 42- may be omitted. As shown in the drawin the upper portionof the slip 40 may be cut over and engage a suitable stop such as thestirrup 38 (or prongs, not shown, if the stirrup is omitted as may bethe case when a shallow box is used;) to prevent its being shoved bodilyupward or aside away from the spring end 27, by insertion of anyinstrument through the small opening 42 in the celluloid strip. Uponopening the box by raising the lid 11 the tongue 18 will tilt the cammember 22 forwardly as described and shown in Fig. 4, causing the point27 of the spring 25 to perforate the slip, or card 40 after passingthrough theopening 28 in the plate 1.5. I f

The above described means for preventing the surreptitious opening of areceptacle is of general application and may be adapted .to varioususes. For the purposes of a bank or other institution maintaining safetydeposit service, the system illustrated by Figs. 6 and 7 is particularlyadapted. According to this system, a recordof the patrons signature andthe box number assigned to him having been made when the box is rented,when he desires access to his box he will sign a statement such as isprinted on the card or slip 40 as illustrated in Fig. 7 'ving also hisbox number and the date. he patron then may accompany the custodian tothe vault or cabinet where the boxes are stored and the custodian willopen the compartment bearing the patrons box number as shown on theslip. On the inside of the door 43 to this compartment there may besecured in anydesired manner a card 44 hearing the owners signature andthe attestation of a deputy. The signature on the slip 40 bei genuineand corresponding to that on the oor 43, as well as to that on a similarslip 40 appearing through the slot in the front of the deposit box 10,the owner may receive his box. As reviously described any opening of theli will cause the Upon and therefore-the fact that such slip isunmutilated is proof of the fact that the contents have not beendisturbed. Upon receiving the box with the slip 40 in unmutilatedcondition the owner may therefore be assured that noone, even anoilicial having a key to the container in which it is stored, hasdisturbed its contents. The custodian will see that the punctured slipis then removed and the newly signed slip substituted therefor. Theremoved sli is then stamped with a .date stamp and file away as a recordthat the patron had access to the box on that date.

It will be understood, of course, that the cabinet having separatecompartments for receiving the boxes may be omitted and the depositboxes merely stored loosely in a vault or other suitable receptacle,normally locked or not as desired. Or, if the cabinet I is used, thedoors 43 to the various compartments may be locked by any suitable meanssuch as the lock-commonly used requiring both the owners and thecustodians key to unlock the same. The presentation of a number and asignature corresponding to that on the card on the inside of the door 43bearing that number, will be suflicient to satisfy the custodian thattheparty desiring access to the box is the one entitled to such privilege,even though he may not personally recognize him. This information isobtained at a glance by the custodian after opening the compartmentbearing the number ofthe box called for without necessarily apprisingthe patron that his identity is being investigated, and avoids thenecessity of comparing data-contained in a separate file, with the.accompanying loss of time and annoyance to the patron consequent upontaking these precautions.

In usi my system it maybe desirable that the card 40 for the box, or thecard on the inside of the door 43 to the cabinet compartments, beautomatically provided with means identifyingl it with the box or.compartment from w ich it was taken. To accomplish this I have shownembossing;

means arranged within each box or compartment to impress indicia. suchas the number of the box or compartment on the card when it is used,'although any means for changing the appearance of the card, such as byprinting, may be employed. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the preferredmeans 120 com rises a die 50 securedto the'outer side of t e spring 25and adapted to enter an opening 51 in registry therewith in the plate 15and impress the box numeral or other indicia contained thereon onto theslip 40 when the spring 25-is moved forwardly by the cam 22 as the coveris raised.

It will be apparent that the record made by the die 50 on the slip 40may alone cause suficient alteration of the appearance of the 13.0

. slip and that the end 27 of thespring and plate 15 may, if dejamb 45may have the embossing member 46 secured thereto and the inner end of acard- 54 bent over the end of the door 43 whereby when the door isclosed the numeral 46 will be impressed thereon. The card 54 takes theplace of the card 44 and may be conveniently attached to the door 43 asunder clips 55 and be readily removed and filed away, and replaced by anewly signed card each time the door 43 is opened.

In the manner thus described, a record may be automatically made on theslip- 40 or card 54, permitting of no alteration or mistake, showing thebox or compartment which was opened and from which the slip was removed.

It may be desirable in addition to the signature on the cards to requirea password to be given, or the signature may be omitted and the paswordalone be sufiicient to gain access to the box. A patron may also desire.to place a private mark on the slip to aid in detecting a possibleforgery. This may easily be done on any part of the new slip before itis inserted in the box, such as on its back, in a manner known only tohimself thus making surreptitious removal and These replacement of theslip impossible. and other details may of course be varied to suit therequirements or desires of those using the system. I claim:

1. In a safety deposit box system, a compartment for the reception of adeposit box, said compartment having a door.- a data card carried on theinside of the door, and

means whereby closin the door alters the appearance of the car 2. In asafety deposit box system, a set of compartments for the reception ofdeposit boxes, said compartments having doors, a data card mounted oneach door, and means whereby closing a door impresses identificationindicia on the card. i

3. In a deposit box having a cover, a data slip containedin the box,means within said box coacting with the cover whereby raising the coverimpresses identification indiciaon said slip.

4. In a deposit box having a cover, a data slip contained in-the box,means within said box adapted to be moved adjacent to said slip by meanssecured to said cover when cover and a front wall having a slot therein,a member behind said slot forming with the front wall a pocket for thereception ofa data slip, said member having an opening and means behindsaid member adapted to pass through said openin upon raising the coverof said box, to muti ate said slip.

6. A safety deposit box receptacle comprising a rectangular box having ahinged cover and a. front wall having a slot therein,

means "fori'nounting an identification card behind said slot within saidbox, a transparent memberin front of said means permitting thevisibility of indiciaon said card and preventing removal of said cardfrom the box except by raising the cover, registering openings withinsaid means and said transparent member, and means within said box inregistry with said openings adapted to be moved forwardly by the raisingof said cover to pass through said openings and puncture the card.

'7. A safety deposit receptacle, comprising a rectangular box having ahinged cover, a front wall having a slot therein formi a pocket for theinsertion of an identification card, and means within said box coactingwith said cover to cause alteration of the said slip, a cam pivotedwithin said box behind said member, a tongue dc nding from the cover ofsaid box adapte to engage/said cam and tilt it forwardly and cause saidmember to mutilate the slip when the cover is raised.

9. In a safetydeposit box having a cover pivoted thereto and anidentification slip ositioned behind the forward wall'of said ox, meansbehind said sli coacting with said cover to puncture the s ip uponraising the cover, said means comprising a member pivoted at one end tosaid forward wall, the other end beind sharpened, a cam member pivotedto the bottom of said box behind said sharpened member and a ton esecured to the cover of said box adapt to engage said cam and move saidfirst mentioned member forwardl through the slip when the cover is raiIn a safety deposit box, means for retainlng an identification slipwithin the inside front wall, a cam ivotedto the bottom of said box heldnorma ly in vertical position by a leaf spring pivoted to the front walland having a sharpened end adapted to puncture said slip when movedforwardly a bell crank pivoted to said cam, a tongue depending from thecover'of said box adapted to cooperate with said bell crank, wherebyupon raising the cover the cam will be thrown forwardly causing thespring to puncture the slip.

11. Ina safety deposit box, means for retaining a data slip adjacent tothe inside front wall, a defacing member inside the box, means dependingfrom the cover of said box adapted to actuate the defacing member, andmeans whereby the closing of the cover causes the engagement of thedefacing member with said depending means.

12. In a safety deposit box, means for retaining a data slip adjacent tothe inside front wall, a cam pivoted within the box and spring pressedaway from the front wall, a defacing member adapted to be actuated bysaid cam, a bell crank pivoted to said cam, a tongue depending from thecover of said box adapted to cooperate with the lower arm of said bellcrank, another portion of the cover engaging the upper arm of said bellcrank to cause the engagement of the lower end with said tongue wherebyupon raising the cover the bell crank will tilt the cam forwardly andactuate said defacing member.

13. A deposit box adapted to receive adj acent to the front wall thereofa data slip, a cover for said box forming a portion of one of the wallsof said box, means positioned within said box cooperating with saidcover whereby raising the cover mutilates said slip, and means on thecover for engaging. the slip and preventing surreptitious movementthereof.

14. A safety deposit system comprising a deposit box having a cover.constitutin a portion of one of the side walls of the ox carryingtherein a card having a signed contract thereon, and means whereby saidcover cannot be raised without altering the ap pearance of said card.

15. A deposit box having a cover forming a ortion of one of the walls ofsaid box and a apted to receive a card adjacent to the front wallthereof, said card having a contract, a signature to said contract, andother indicia thereon, and means positioned within said box ooactingwith said cover to mutilate said card when the cover is raised.

16. A safety deposit box having a hinged cover with side flangesextending over the edges of the box, a sight opening in the end of thebox, means for carrying a record slip adjacent the sight opening, andmeans for automatically mutilating the record slip when the box is open.

17. In a safety deposit box system, the combination with a box having arecord slip adapted to carry a users signature and means on the box forautomatically mutilating the slip when the box is open, of a compartmentadapted to house the box, a door for the compartment, and means on theinner side of the door for carrying two signatures, one of which agreeswith the signature on the box.

18. In a safety deposit box system, the combination of a series ofcompartments, each having an individual door, cards on the inner facesof the respective doors carrying two signatures and boxes in saidcompartments each carrying one of said signatures.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

HOLMES MARSHALL.

